Two former Parramatta Eels players are accused of harbouring semi-automatic weapons and possessing more than half-a-million dollars in cash after dramatic arrests in Sydney's Centennial Park yesterday.

Chemical weapon 'temptation high' in Syria

Syria's desperate regime is likely to be tempted to use any chemical weapons it has against its people, Australia's foreign minister has warned.

US intelligence has seen signs that Syria is moving materials inside chemical weapons facilities recently, though it's unsure what the movement means.

Syria is believed to have hundreds, if not thousands, of tons of chemical agents, including mustard gas, a powerful blistering agent, and the more lethal nerve agents Sarin and VX.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged Syria's regime against using its stockpile of chemical weapons, warning of "huge consequences" if Bashar al-Assad resorts to such weapons of mass destruction.

But Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said the Assad regime had a history of violent crackdowns.

"The government of Syria has not shown reservations about inflicting mass casualties on its own people," he told ABC TV on Wednesday.

"The desperation of the Assad forces means that it's very, very likely that they will be tempted to do something with the reserves of chemical weapons they have."